Observed Signal · Sep 7, 2026 · Technical Release · Source: t3n · Impact: 2/5 · Sentiment: Positive
WhatsApp to Allow Calls Without User Accounts
Meta is developing a feature for WhatsApp that will let users make calls to people without a WhatsApp account. This follows a similar guest chat feature in development since March 2026. Users with accounts will create a call and share a link, which guests can open in a web view. Guests must enter their name and be approved by the call administrator. WhatsApp generates an identifier for end-to-end encrypted communication. The call link expires after ten days. No release timeline has been announced.
Feature is a minor update to a major platform, may expand WhatsApp's reach but not industry-shifting.
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Key Takeaways & Evidence Grounding
- Meta is testing guest calls for WhatsApp, allowing calls to users without accounts.
- The feature uses links that create a web-based call interface for guests.
- Call administrators must approve guests before they can join.
- Guests receive a generated identifier for end-to-end encrypted communication.
- Call links are valid for ten days.
- The feature is in development with no release date.
Connected Companies & Entities
1 Entity mapped“Meta will Whatsapp für noch mehr Menschen öffnen....”
Ontology Mapping & Concepts
Related Market Signals & Shifts
Recent verified developments and strategic activity across this market segment.
WhatsApp Testing Guest Calls, Event Hub, Restricted Chats
WhatsApp is developing three new features: guest calls allowing people without a WhatsApp account to join voice and video calls via browser links, a centralized Event Hub for managing events and sharing invitations with non-users, and Restricted Chat to protect private conversations from access via linked devices and AI agents. The features were discovered by WABetaInfo in beta versions for iOS and Android. Guest calls, currently in development, would let iOS users create call links that guests can open in a browser without installing the app, with end-to-end encryption maintained. The Event Hub, found in Android beta, aggregates event creation, management, and responses, and allows sharing event links with non-WhatsApp users. Restricted Chat, also in Android beta, builds on Advanced Chat Privacy to prevent chat export, automatic media saving, sharing with Meta AI, and access from linked devices. Rollout dates are not yet announced.
WhatsApp Adds Usernames, Keeps Phone Requirement
WhatsApp announced a new usernames feature that lets people share their profiles without exposing their phone numbers while still requiring a phone number to create an account. Users can reserve usernames starting today; WhatsApp said the feature will officially roll out later this year and will notify users when reservation becomes available in their country. Usernames must be between 3 and 35 characters (article updated to reflect this). Meta is reserving usernames for top celebrities, VIPs and organizations, and businesses/creators can claim their Facebook or Instagram username as their WhatsApp username. Usernames will not be searchable in the app — only people who know an exact username (or a user’s optional “username key”) can message that account — and users can disable or change the feature at any time. Rival messaging apps including Telegram, Signal and Wire have offered usernames for years.
WhatsApp Introduces Usernames to Hide Phone Numbers
Meta-owned WhatsApp has opened a global reservation period for unique usernames that will allow users to communicate without exposing their phone numbers. Reservations began at the end of June 2026; WhatsApp confirmed the launch in a company blog post but said the reserved names will be usable as a replacement for phone numbers only after a phased rollout in the coming months. Account creation will still require a phone number, there will be no public searchable directory, and an optional "Username Key" can be enabled to require a code for first-time messages from strangers. Creators, small businesses and organisations can claim matching Facebook/Instagram usernames. The app exposes a reservation option in Settings > Account > Username and offers a username generator; some users already see the option while others will receive it later.
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